Homosocial or homoerotic: A re-reading of gender and sexuality in Harry Potter through fanfiction

Abstract

The Harry Potter novels present their readers with traditional views of masculinity, male dominance and, by extension, female subjugation. Although the books may appear to portray female characters as strong and independent, the text focuses on outmoded ideas of male heroism. While many critics have discussed related topics like female power and sexuality in Rowling’s novels, this article focuses on the power structure at play and on the underlying homoerotic subtexts in the source text by making use of Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick’s concept of homosociality. In addition, the article relies on fanfiction stories to shed light on the hidden homoerotic subtexts in the novels and examines the ways in which fanfiction allows and promotes a fluidity between homosocial and homosexual bonds between men. This article attempts to find answers to how fanfiction enables the readers to imagine male intimacy and what premises these stories consider. The article claims that fanfiction stories broaden Sedgwick’s term by combining male homosocial relationships with intimacy and non-homophobia and exposing the homosexual continuum in already written texts. The article further suggests that fanfiction can be considered a utopian place/space where male intimacy can be imagined.